((New post, because it is good for the universe. I would like to applaud all of the Cravat's fine members for not making a home/Holmes pun, nor yet a Holmesosexual pun. Not yet.))

Location: The CravatTime: Out of time

Sherlock Holmes and John Watson stumbled out of the portal, Watson still a little wide eyed at the prospect of time travel, Holmes retaining his famous composure. They stood in wait of the others, avoiding each other's eyes.

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Holmes's reaction was more than a little puzzling. Gabe had expected anger or sadness or at least distress. He reached out and gingerly patted Holmes's shoulder. "Yeah," he said. "Hilarious, I'm sure. Laugh while you can, anyhow. Withdrawal makes it hard to find the humor in things." He looked over at Watson and Jeannot, perhaps for help, and smiled at the sight of the two of them sitting on the ground like schoolboys. Jeannot seemed much happier, and Gabe was only sad he hadn't been able to cheer him up himself.

"I have a very limited, perhaps even disturbed, sense of humor, Rosenburg," Holmes said miserably, unable to stop a weak laugh from escaping. Ordinarily he would have twitched away from Gabe's touch, but as of this moment he was far too taken with the fact that Watson was still fretting after him, particularly after their recent estrangement.

"Definitely disturbed," Gabe agreed, softly, too busy watching Jean to pick a proper fight. After a moment of silence he laughed. "I am absolutely and stupidly in love," he said, grinning, his eyes still not leaving his love. "Though I'm sure you've noticed, being the Great Sherlock Holmes and all that."

"Yes," Holmes said dryly. "You sway from side to side whenever you walk with him. Oscillation always means an affair of the heart." He looked vaguely at the ceiling for a moment, then added, "Are you an aesthete? Or a radical of some sort? I have never heard anyone be so completely. . .ah. Open. About this sort of thing."

"You mean about liking men?" Gabe asked, purposely phrasing it plainly. "That's because a lot changes in a century. I don't think there are enforced sodomy laws much of anywhere, excepting some Arab countries, I suppose." He shrugged. "In my New York you could walk down the street holding hands with another man and, yeah, some people might stare, and occasionally you'll get heckled, but you won't get arrested or anything. New York is a liberal city, though, and I tend to keep queerer company than most, on the rare occasions I decide to keep company. It's way different from where I grew up. We..." he stopped and bit his lip. "Let's not talk about how I grew up," he concluded.

Holmes sighed deeply, the breath rattling in his tobacco addled lungs. "My upbringing is showing. Now, as I believe you know, I am an eminently rational man. I would flatter myself I am very good at being an eminently rational man. Now, I am aware that I - or - I mean of course, men who - or - oh, why bother with pretense. I am well aware that I experience all of the symptoms of 'love,' however, the rational logic of my day dictates that it is not possible except between male and female." He spread his thin hands despairingly. "What am I to think?"

"That the rational logic of your day is wrong," Gabe replied, simply. "After all, it took people years to figure out that the earth revolves around the sun, and I'd say that love is much more complex, wouldn't you?"

Holmes blinked. "Well, certainly love is very complex, which is why I seem to be in such a very objectionable state - But what did you say? The earth revolves around. . .? Oh, yes. Watson told me that once. Fascinating thing, though not terribly useful," he added blithely, as though it were perfectly normal not to know something of such a basic nature.

((Eeee! I read that! Now I just need to find the book so I can finish it.))

"Oh." Gabe murmured, slightly astonished. "Well," he continued. "There goes my analogy, but my point still stands, I hope? People make assumptions all the time because it's what's accepted to be right, and it never occurs to them that everyone else could be wrong too. Heterosexism was one of those things until rather recently, even for me."

"Hetero. . .from the Greek heteros? Different? Oh, I see. Yes. Well." Holmes chewed his bottom lip. "That, I fear I shall have to carefully consider. However, we have problems of a more practical nature." He furrowed his brows. "I apologize for my earlier accusation of opium addiction. You have been. . ." Holmes struggled for the right word. "Helpful."